The Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism is excited to bring you Fred Focus, a weekly newsletter that will go out every Thursday. Fred Focus will keep you up-to-date on upcoming Fredericksburg events as well as business information. Enjoy!

German and American flags have been flying along city streets this week to welcome visitors from Fredericksburg's sister city of Schwetzingen. The German visitors' itinerary has included a welcome reception at the Courtyard by Marriott downtown, a variety of tours of the region, dinner with Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, a panel discussion and a trip to Monticello.

The City of Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg VA Main Street Inc. are partnering to explore a Creative Maker District along the portion of the Princess Anne Street corridor between the Rappahannock Canal and U.S. 1. The below survey will help the Fredericksburg Planning Department and Main Street calibrate land-use controls and programming to best foster the type of revitalization envisioned for the district.

The University of Mary Washington plans to renovate Willard Hall, the residence hall that has been uninhabitable since July due to a ruptured steam tunnel under the building, at a cost of $24.5 million.

City Council is holding a forum Saturday to hear public comments on the two options for the future of the slave auction block located at the corner of William and Charles streets. The public forum will take place at James Monroe High School and will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Historicon, a miniature-gaming society that has been convening at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center since 2012, used
1,039 local room nights for the event held this past July 13-16. The economic impact of the event was about $1.17 million.

Liberty Place is an exciting new downtown project in the block enclosed by William, Amelia, Winchester and Douglas streets in downtown Fredericksburg. Liberty Place will have about 86,000 square feet ofcommercial space and a 303-space above-ground parking garage.